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Trude
How to Pronounce Trude
Pronounced TROOD /ˈtruːd/Medium
Meaning: Trude is a German diminutive of Gertrude, whose roots are the Germanic ger, 'spear,' and thrud, 'strength,' so the pet name carries a sense of 'strong spear.'Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Trude is a clipped form of Gertrude, built from the Germanic ger, 'spear,' and thrud, 'strength.' Given as a first name in its own right, it reflects the mid-century habit of registering a familiar diminutive rather than the long formal name.
It was never common in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year around its peak in the late nineteen-fifties, mostly among German-heritage families. A girl named Trude then is in her late sixties today.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Trude mean?
It is a short form of Gertrude, from the Germanic ger, 'spear,' and thrud, 'strength.'
How do you pronounce Trude?
It is said TROOD /ˈtruːd/, a single syllable.
Is Trude a boy or girl name?
Trude is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Trude?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year around its peak in the late nineteen-fifties.